Shiftable stopper.



T. C. SPELLING.

SHIFTABLE STOPPER'.

APPLICATION min JAN.22.1917.

1,278,2% Patented sept. 10,1918.

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THOMAS C. SPELLING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHIFTABLE STOPPER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,780.

To aZZ whom l? may Concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. SPELLING, citizen of the United States,and resident of the city of New York, in the county of New York andState of New York, have invent-ed certain new and useful ShiftableStoppers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combinations of caps and pullers withshiftable Stoppers for bottles and containers for liquids and othersubstances.

Its purpose is the provision of a simple economical and effective meansfor pouring out of bottles and other containers liquids and othersubstances without the necessity of removing the stopper from the bottleor container. It is especially useful in cases of liquids, oils, syrupsand mucilaginous substances which stain, grease, corrode, burn oradhere; but the device is of extensive adaptability, and in modifiedforms may be used in (ponnection with substances other than liqui s.

To facilitate a full and complete understanding of the invention, I willillustrate the preferred and also a modified embodiment of the same, andthe details, arrangement and combination of parts willk be learned uponreading the specific description found hereinafter, in connection with'the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein the'preferred and modified embodiments are illustrated.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a container equipped with the device asit will appear ready for the flow of liquid therefrom at the sidemouth;Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bottle-neck member prepared forvequipment with the other parts; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of thecover member, showing' the edges of the cap abutting and held rigid bymeans of an angle brace riveted thereto and designed to function as asupport, the protector to be later described; Fig. 4 is a perspective,view of the pull member, (hereinafter designated as the puller)exhibiting its principal parts in positions and relations to be occupiedand held by them after insertion in the stopper and prior to the application of pull force; and Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional views of thepositions and relations of the same parts after being set, as a resultof applying initial pull force. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the partof the puller hereinafter designated as the sharp clip, and Fig.

8 is a like view of the part hereinafter desig-v nated as the bluntclip. Fig. 9 represents a modification.

Referring more specifically to the` draw-l ings wherein like referencefigures designate corresponding parts, 1 is a stopper, of any materialof which a stopper may be suitably formed and at 2 is an opening,preferably a gap or groove, the uses of which are made apparenthereinafter. The bottle neck member has the mouth 3, the sidemouth 4;and the slot or gap 5. The cover member has corresponding gaps cut awayat 6 to form the opening 7 upon emplacement. The puller has the ringorshield 1G on the stein 11, the sharp point 12, the slots 13 to receiveand engage the narrowed portions 14 of the clips. At 14a, the sides ofthe stein which are to be adjacent to the depressed shoulders of theclip, with the latter in place, are slightly iiattened, thus forming ashallow groove therein, the rotundity of the stem being thus modified,the purpose being to so locate said shoulders in place that they willnot seriously interfere with the introduction of the stem to place. Thesharp edged clip has the said narrowed portion, the depressed shoulders15 the wings 16 on which are the sharp edges 17 and the sharp andslightly deflected points 18. The blunt edged clip has the same partsdesignated by the same reference figures, and differs from the sharpedged clip only in the respect that the said edges 17 are blunt. lEachslot slants from each side of the stem to a common base 19, the narrowedportion of the clip being bent upon insertion to fit and be frictionallyheld therewithin. y

In order to facilitate insertion of the stem in the stopper, theinterior or upper, walls of each slot are beveled at 19n so that, indescending to place, the wings may fold up against the stem. rIhe clipsare placed in the stopper at right angles with the incisions or openingsin stopper, cover, and bottle, the purpose being the prevention ofinterference in use of one operation with another, and in order thatintegral portions of the bottle neck and stopper shall be adjacent tothe wings,

Further description will consist largely of a description of the processof emplacement of parts and their operation in use. The stem isintroduced into the stopper along its center, the stem point precedingthe other adjuncts, small trenches being cut by said sharp wing pointsand the stopper substance being impacted and possibly slightly torn bythe wings, the shoulders not interfering, however, because screened fromcontact by emplacement in said flattened portions of the stem. VWhen thering contacts with: the cap, (presently described) on the top surface,the proper depth has been attained by the other parts respectively. Thestem is then, by the application of pull force at the ring, caused tomove upwardly a short distance, the length of the movement beingregulated by the action of thevwings and wing shoulders.

The sharp points 18 ofthe sharp clip, initially enveloped in the stoppersubstance, are,` by, said pull force, caused to further penetrate at anangle with respect tothe stem and upwardly and outwardly in the stoppersubstance, and the sharp edges cut their ways in the general directiontaken by said wing points. The blunt wingswillsimultaneously indent thestopper substance and impact it out toward the inside surface 0f theneck, probably with incidental but immaterial splitting and tearing.

This puller provides a convenient simple means for upwardly moving allkinds of Stoppers, whether tapered or straight in form, whether looselyor tightly emplaced.

The difficulty encountered in upwardly moving Stoppers is the adhesionat'the surface, resulting from tense contact with the inner surface ofthe neck ofthe bottle, and a hardening of the outer surface of thestopper, resulting from an linevitable access of atmospliere. Thevinteriors of Stoppers remain comparatively soft, and barbs and wingscentrally located and not, as here, supplemented,

c usually, especially in the case of tight stoppers, cut their waysupwardly, or tear out the interior, or break and dismember the stopper,leaving either the outer or lower portion in the neck. Usually, the useof a clip having comparatively blunt edged wings alone would effect aremoval of the stopper. Such a sharp edged2wing as is here provided is,however, a valuable auxiliary, because of its lifting capacity. Yetuniform success of the pulling process cannot lbe' expected without thecoaction of the other clip, with its blunt edged wings. The full forcewill act simultaneously upon both. The sharp edged wings will carve intothe stopper substance with but slight if any effect upon form, but,while its action resulting from a continuance of the pull force, mightcause upward movement of the portion aboveit, itwould, in most cases,merely result in a severance of the cork. The blunt winged clip islocated on the stem a little below the sharp winged clip. The pullforceproduceg a different effect upon it. As its wings are forcedoutwardly andat an-angle upwardly, they produce a perceptibleseparationof the adjacent parts, vand indent, without cutting, thesubstance. rThey also havezactionY on the outer surface, forcing it toslide upward on the interior surface of the neck. Together, the clipsexert not merely lifting power but an upwardly and outwardly directedforce; and it isclear, Without illustration, that any required number ofsuch clips, and of both with by lock action, we have all theV parts ofthe puller, as regards present purposes, finallyV emplaced. The sharpclip will rest in place in the upper slot, alined with the blunt clip.Its wings are identical with each other and are identical in generalform with the wings of the sharp clip, but the edges of the former arecomparatively blunt.

The stem shoulder 20, uponthe clips being Set by initial pull force willbe elevated a little above the top surface of the cap on the stopper,the elevation depending on the length of the wings, which in turn willbeadapted to the size of the stopper in cach case. The buffer 2l restsunder the stem shoulder' its base resting on the top of the cap on thestopper. The cap, preferably of thin sheet metal, rests on top of thestopper, and has the hole 22 for the stem, also the in teriorshoulderQB, the interior shoulder23a, and the extension 24. Whenassembled', the top rim of the Ycork will rest against interior shoulder23,l and the top rimvof the neck will rest against interior shoulder23a. This extension is a mere continuation of the sheet of which the capis formed and has the rivet holes 25 correlated to similar holes25'r1 inthe cover for fastening these two members to`- gether. Y

The extension of the opening made in the neck from the side-mouth to thetop'is not merely a convenience in the manufacture of the container, butits presence allows a attening and creasing of the corresponding portionof the cover, affords room for properly fitting-and fastening its sideedges, and guides the stopper and cover in proper course and relation.Speaking with literal correctness, thecap and tubular formation,constituting F ig. 3, together constitute the cover, but to facilitateillustration andvdescription I have termed the portion made to coverthestopper and extend over the rim of the neck the cap, and the otherportion the cover. There is a barely perceptible bend to the horizont-aladjacent toreference figure 25, on the cap and betweenA reference`figures 8; and 9 on the cover, When the two y vious that, ordinarily,

edges of the cover are brought together and riveted, and the cap andcover are riveted together, and the flattened sections broughtv intocorrespondence with each other, and the completed flat section placedacross the slot in the neck, (see Fig. 2) such combination will preventrotary movement of the cover and, in use, the united stopper and cover(the term now including the cap)4 will be held and guided vertically,with the gap in the stopper in alinement with the side-mouth, 1i.

Incidentally to their combined-principal office, the stem and clipsconstitute a much needed bracing and strengthening for the stopper,without-which, especially in the case of straight and tight stoppers,they would tend to roughen exteriorly, rendering vertical movement inuse difficult.

The stopper is first introduced into the neck, through the mouth of thebottle, care being taken to aline the gap or recess therein with theslot and side-mouth in the neck. Next the riveting or soldering wherebythe cap and cover and the edges ofthe cover are united is done on thestopper and neck and the cover member thus are emplaced, in properposition and relation with respect to theside-mouth, spout and slot inthe neck. The cap now rests on the stopper. Next the puller carrying theclips is inserted in the stopper through the hole 22 in the cap, carebeing taken that the clips be ranged at an angle, preferably at rightangles, with a line drawn vertically through the side-mouth. Since, asis self evident, the initial insertion of the stem with the clips in itwill require the application of.

mechanical force, it may be well to explain that, in the processof'insertion, the bottle will be clamped, and the stopper firmly heldthrough the side-mouth by any suitable tool which may be employed. Asharply pointed fork could be used. That part of the stopper has nosealing function, hence its slight mutilation, if resulting, would be ofno consequence. As initially inserted the wings of the clips slantupwardly against the stem, the sharp points thereon, having cut theirways down, rest enveloped in the substance of the stopper, as beforeexplained, and the points of the depressed shoulders, are nearto, butslightly separated from the surface of the flattened side of the stem.1t is oband before upward movement of the stopper can be effected, as aresult of the application of wings will be given a punching andpenetrating movement which quickly causes the depressed shoulders tocontact with the stem in the shallow grooves formed by flattening, asabove explained; and such contact arrests the backward movement of thewings. The yielding movement now terminating, if the pull force werecontinued,the stopper would the open side to be the under side,

pull force, the

be moved upwardly. Of course, however, the contents of the containerhave been already introduced, Vand upward movement at this stage wouldbe premature. The preliminary pull by which the wings are set results ina slight elevation ofthe ring above the cap and exposure at that pointof a small portion of the stem. Now merely for the purpose-of raisingthe stopper, no buffer under the ring would be needed; but to lower thestopper'after any vdesired use of the side-mouth, the force exerted toreplace it and so reseal the bottle below the sidemouth, can be mostconveniently exerted on the stem at the ring. Without the buffer 2O thelstem would have downward movement and disarrangethe setting of theclips. So the;buffer 20 is'provided'.' It must be em- -placed last, onthe cap around the hole, 22,

ut may be placed around the stem in any one ofy a variety ofways which Ithink need not be here specified.

After emplacement of the other parts, we shall ind the lower margin ofthe gap', 26, in the cover some little distance below the spout...Thereto may be attached an appropriately formed lug, 27, to evenlycontact with 'the lower side of the spout in the function of arrestingupward movement.

The shield 28, carrying the flap or cover 29 may be suitably attached tothe upper margin. After emplacement, the shield will rest on,'and theflap orcover will extend over the spout. They might be variouslyconstructed, but it is here suggested that the shield be in the form ofa concaved shell, the edges of the shell to extend slightly beyond theouter form of the spout, and that the flap' or cover be attached to theedges of the shell and extend across said open side. 1t would be formedpreferably of india rubber, though closely woven cloth would serve thepurpose. rEhe shield protects the spout from breakage, and the flap orcover preserves its cleanliness. f

The side-mout and spout, though closely connected, are designatedseparately, because, for some uses, it will be desirable to form thebottle and the spout of different materials, the spout, in that case, tobe suitably attached to thelcontainer, at the sidemouth.

With all parts so emplaced, in use, a pull at the ring mores the stopperupwardly, such movement being arrested by Contact of -said margin, orlug, 27, with the spout. The gap or groove inthe lower portion of thestopper is now opposite and adjacent to said side-mouth and spout, andonly a creeping or tipping of the container is required to pour out thecontents, entirely or in part, through the spout, after which, thestopper being pushed back to place, the integral and uncut portion ofthe stopper descends to the interior spacein the neck and again sealsthe container. acts may be repeatedindeinitely.

'Ilhe mechanism abovevdescrbed could be somewhat. simplied, and` on theother hand couldbe yof more complicated construction,

below the spout The same but the form here described may be adapted'V At30 is a sieve which may be made of any suitable material and constructedwith reference to detachably joined to the-stopper within the recess.The sieve may be made with close meshing, and so constituted a strainerfor liquids, or with enlarged meshing, when it will serve as a sifter ofother substances placed in the-bottle. The'formation of the recessIeffects a diminution of the interiorend ofl the stopper, not only makingprovision for the introduction and attachment of the sieve, but, sincethe rend thus diminished will, when mediately below and adjacent tothesidemouth, it will break up'the mass flowing outwardly and of liquids,and clogging in the case of other substances. A

The modification, illustrated `in Fig. 9 is presented. It involves notthe slightest change in the equipment of the stopper if the stopper beshortened and the stem bent and extended over the'buffer and above theupper margin of the opening in the cover previously describedat rightangles and the ringv be given the form and function here shown over -thespout through the opening 30a, and used to elevate and lower-theclosure. In .this form olf-construction a portion of t-he stem which isthus bent laterally will, of course, have movement, in use, in the slotin the neck. ofthe bottle or container, limited by the range of movementof the cover. A cylinder of wood, fiber or other suitable materialmight, in that case, be-inserted in the space within the bottle neckabove the buffer, at 3l, or said portion of space might remain vacant.

Itis obvious that the cap for the cover now being separated, from thestopper will be devoid'of the shouldering overt'he-stopper, and willhave a flat form as seen at 82. In all other respects, construction andemplacement would be substantially the'A same in the two :embodiments Iclaim:d

l. An article as described,- comp-rising a particular use, andpermanently or the stopper is elevated in use, rest im-l so prevent-1gurgling in the case being suitablyv attached to both the bottle on theyneck thereof and on the stopper, said stopper and cover being slidable,the stopper within, and the cover on, the neck of the bottleand thestopper havingan integral yand a diminishedend, the integral endadapted, when pressed bottle belowlthev side-mouth, the diminished endadapted, after elevation ofthe stopper in the neck preparatorytopouring'out the contents of the bottle through the sidemouth to breakthe continuity of the mass of matter within the bottle and preventgurgling at the side-mouth when the contents are uid.

'2. In an article as described, the combination with a bottle having akside-mouth in the neck-thereof, and a stopper carrying a pull member, ofal cover for the stopper and neck,.said cover being suitably attached tothe bottle on the neck thereof and to the stopper, said stopper andcover being slidable, the stopper within, and the cover on, the neck ofthe bottle said bottle being slotted between the side-mouth in the neckthereof and the top, saidy slotted portion being formedfto-engage theflattened' sectionV of the cover, in preventing, in use, rotary movementof the cover and preserving alinement of the recess inthe end of thestopper with the side-mouth.

3. An article as described, comprising a bottle, a stopperthereforcarrying a pull member, and a cover yattached to both, said pullmem-ber consisting of a stem having a sharp lowerend point, a ring andshoulder at its upperterminal, and, intermediately, two slots for clips,land carrying winged clips in the slots, one having sharply pointed andsharp edged wings, the other h1aving sharply pointed and blunt edgedwings, both clips havingnarrownecks connecting the wings, having alsodepending shoul-l ders slitted from the wings, the necks adapted tov befitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly, the sharpwinged clip to be placed in the upper and the blunt winged in the lowerSlot on the stem, and the shoulders adjacently to flattened portions ofthe stem below the necks, the sharp edged wings adapted to cut into thesubstance of a stopper with but slightdisp-lacement, the blunt edgedwings to acutely indent but not to cut the substance, and withperceptible displacement of the substancev down full length to seal thepoured out, if liquid, and clogging, when the contents are other thanliq Y in the lower slot on the stem,

troducing the stem and the attached clips to place' in a stopper, saidclips, in coaction, adapted, upon the application of pull force to thestem, to lift the stopper and cause its upward movement withoutdismemberment.

4. The combination with an article as described, comprising a bottle, astopper, and a cover, of a pull member set in the stopper, said pullmember consisting of a stem having a sharp lower-end point, a ring andshoulder at its upper terminal, and,rinter mediately, two slots Jforclips, and carrying winged clips in the slots, one having sharplypointed and sharp edged wings, the other having sharply pointed andblunt edged wings, both clips having narrow necksconnecting the wings,having also depending shoulders slitted from the wings, the necksadapted to be fitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly,the sharp winged clip to be placed in the upper and the blunt winged inthe lower slot on the stem, and the shoulders adjacently to flattenedportions of the stem below the necks, the sharp edged wings adapted tocut into the substance of a stopper with but slight displacement, theblunt edged wings to acutely indent but not to cut the substance, andwith perceptible displacement of the substance of the stopperinternally, the slots slanted from each side downwardly zto a commonpoint, the adjacent upper portions of the stem beveled to allow thewings to recede toward the stem at but a slight variation from theperpendicular in the act of introducing the stem and the attached clipsto place in a stopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon theapplication of pull force tothe stem, to lift the stopper and cause itsupward movement without dismemberment.

5. In an article as described, comprising a bottle, a cover, andstopper, a pull member consisting of a stem having a Ysharp lower-endpoint, a ring and shoulderA at its upper terminal, and, intermediately,two slots for clips, and carrying winged clips in the slots, one havingsharply pointed and sharp edged wings, the other having sharply pointedand blunt edged wings, both clips having narrow necks connecting theWings, having also depending shoulders slitted from the wings, the necksadapted to be fitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly,the sharp winged clip to be placed in the upper and the blunt winged andthe shoulders adj acently to flattened portions of the stem below thenecks, the sharp edged wings adapted to cut into the substance of astopper with but slight displacement, the blunt edged wings to acutelyindent but not to cut the substance, and with perceptible displacementof the substance of the stopper internally, the slots slanted from eachside downwardly to a common point, the adjacent upper portions of thestem beveled to allow the wings to recede toward the stem at but aslight variation from the perpendicular in the act of introducing thestem and the attached clips to place in a stopper, said clips, incoaction, adapted, upon the appli cation of pull force to the stem, tolift the stopper and cause its upward movement without dismemberment;

6. In 'an article as described, comprising a bottle, cover and stopper,the stopper carrying a pull member, the combination of a sharp wingedand a blunt winged clip, each having engagement in slots formed in thestem of the pull member, and adapted', in combination, and in coactionwith each other and the stem, tolift the stopper upwardly in the neck ofthe bottle, upon application of pull `forceto the puller;` 7

7. In an article, as described, the combination withy a bottle having asingleside# mouth, in the neck thereof and a gap in one side of the neckextending from the top down to the side-mouth, the neck beingwithout'the usual shoulder, an autonomous cover for a stopper and forlthe neck, shiftable vertically von the neck within limitations Xed bythe cover, the cover adapted to arrest downward movement by means ofcontact of an interior shoulder inthe cap of the cover with the rim ofthe neck and to arrest upward movement by means of contact of a lugcarried on the base vof a quadrangular gap in the cover formed to beplaced aroundand about the side-mouth with the underside of thesidemouth, and a stopper, of a pull member carried by the stopper andpermanently anchored therein by means of the indenting wings ofresilient clips, the clips carried in slots formed in the stem of thepull member. Y

8. In yan article as described, comprising a bottle having la singleside-mouth in the neck thereof Vand a'gap i one side of the neck eX-tending 'from thel top down tothe side-v mouth, the neck `being withoutthe usual shoulder, an autonomous cover for a ystopper and for the neckshiftable vertically on the neck within limitations xed by the cover,the cover adapted t0 arrest downward movement by means of contact of aninterior shoulder in the cap of the cover with the rim of the neck andto arrest upward movement by means of contact of a lug carried on thebase of a quadrangular gap in the cover formed to be placed around andabout the side-mouth with the under side of the sidemouth, and astopper, a pull member carried by the stopper and permanently anchoredtherein bymeans of the indenting wings o resilient clips, the clipscarried in slots formed in the stem pull member adapted by coaction ofthe stem and clips, upon the application of pull force to the stem, tolift the lstopper and of the pull member, the

cause its upward movement without dismemberment.

9. VAn article as described, comprising a bottle, a stopper thereforcarrying a pull member and a cover attached to both, said pull memberconsisting of a stem having a sharp lower-end point, a ring and shoulderat its upper terminal, and, intermediately, slots for clips, andcarrying winged clips in the` slots the clips having narrow necksconnecting the wings, having also depending shoulders-slitted from thewings, the necks adapted to be litted into the slots thereby bending thewings upwardly with the shoulders at rest adjacently to flattenedportions of the stem below the necks, the wings adaptedto acutely indentwithl perceptible displacement the substance of the stopper internally,the slots slanted from each side downwardly 'to a common point, theadjacentupper portions of thestem .beveled to allow the wings toapproach the stem at but a slight variationfrom the perpendicular intheact of introducing the stem and the attached clips toplace inastopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon the application of pullforce to the stem, to litt the stopper and cause its upward movementwithout dismemberment. f

l0. The combination withan article.k as described, comprising a bottle,a stopper, and a cover, of a pull member carriedvby and set in thestopper, said pull member consisting of a 4stein having a sharplower-end point, a ring and shoulder at its upper terminal, and,intermediately, two slots for clips, and carrying winged clips in theslots the clips having narrow necks connecting the wings, having alsodepending shoulders slitted from the wings, the necksy adapted to beiitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly withtheshoulders at rest adjacently tovflattened portions ofthe'stembelow thenecks, the .wingsadapted-to acutely indent with Iperceptibledisplacement the c substance Copies of this patent may be obtained forvecents each, by addressing vthe Washington, D. C.

of the stopper internally, the slots slanted from each side downwardlyto a common point, theadjacentupper portions of the stem beveled toallow the wings to approach the stem at but a slight variation from theperpendicular in the act of introducing the stem and the attached clipsto place in a stopper, said clips, in coaction, adapted, upon theapplication of pull force to the stem, to lift the stopper and cause itsupward movement without dismemberment;

11. In an article as described, comprising a bottle, a cover, andstopper, a pull member carried by and set in the stopper consisting of astem having a sharp lower-end point, a ring and shoulder at its upperterminal, and, intermediately, two slots for clips, and carrying wingedclips in the slots, the clips having narrow necks connecting the wings,having also depending shoulders slitted from the wings, the necksadapted t0 be fitted into the slots thereby bending the wings upwardly,the shoulders adjacently to flattened portions of the stem below thenecks, the wings adapted to `acutely indent with perceptibledisplacement the substance of the stopper internally, the slots slantedfrom each side downwardly to a common point, the adjacent upper portionsof the stem beveled to allow the wings to approachthe Istem at but aslight variation from the perpendicular in the act of introducing thestem and the attached clips to place in a stopper, said clips, incoaction, adapted, upon the application of pull force to the stem, tolift the stopper and cause its upward movement-without dismemberment.

Signed at New York, county of Y New York, and State of New York, this7th day of December, A. D. 1916.

lTHOMAS c'. srELLnvo.V Witnesses Y Y PAULINE MAiaGULIs, JOHN GREENBERG.

Commissioner `of Patents.

